WOMEN'S HOCKEY: With Riet Kuper in attendance at Grange Road over the weekend, the senior interprovincial tournament will once again act as trials for players with international aspirations as the Ireland coach prepares to name an extended panel in preparation for next August's European Championships in Belfield.
Unlike last year, when the Irish players missed the tournament, which was held in May after being postponed due to bad weather in February, the provinces have been able to call upon their internationals.
In all, 16 of the squad that competed in the Olympic qualifier will be involved this weekend, with only Ulster's Jill Orbinson (now at the Institute of Sport in Perth, Australia) and Leinster's Nicky King (who retired from international hockey after the qualifier) not featuring.
Ulster's hopes of winning their first senior title since 2001 are boosted by the return of seven internationals, including Irish captain Lynsey McVicker and goalkeeper Angela Platt.
The squad is almost unrecognisable from May's panel, with coach Graeme Francey making 13 changes. Pegasus defender Fiona Ferguson, who has declared herself fit following an ankle injury, is one of only five players to retain their place.
Munster, too, are significantly strengthened by the availability of the five players they had at the qualifier - Eimear Cregan, Deirdre Casey, Elaine Bromell, Fiona Connery and Kristin Farrell - while coach Ann Logan also welcomes back the experiencedtrio of Karen Bateman, Sarah O'Meara and Aoife McCarthy.
Goalkeeper Alison Lappin, who was in the Ulster squad last season, is included after switching from Randalstown to the University of Limerick.
Connacht have the most settled of the four squads, with Orla Bell able to name 15 of the 18 players who competed in May, when they finished third after beating Munster in their final game.
The three newcomers are Railway Union's former Leinster under-21 goalkeeper Jane Coyne and Old Alexandra pair Ciara Murphy and Roisin O'Connor.
Defending champions Leinster, captained by Cathy McKean, who scored six goals in three games in May, will be seeking their third title in four years.
Allied to home advantage they would appear to have a squad capable of succeeding.
Fred McDarby has been able to recall Linda Caulfield, Nikki Symmons, Ciara O'Brien and Jenny Burke, while giving senior interprovincial debuts to under-21 internationals Nikki Keegan (Loreto) and Clare Sullivan (UCD).
Leinster will open the tournament this evening against Munster before Ulster take on Connacht.
CONNACHT: E Glanville (Galway), T Browne (co-capt), A Mitchell (both Hermes), A M Cullen, C Grealy (co-capt), O Ryan, S Scott (all Loreto), C Deacy (Montpelier), P Ryan (NUIG), R O'Connor, C Murphy (both Old Alexandra), O Canavan, S Clarke, E MacNicholas, L O'Hagan (all Pembroke Wanderers), J Coyne (Railway Union). Coach: Orla Bell.
LEINSTER: L Caulfield, J Burke (both Hermes), L Healy, N Keegan, L O'Neill, C McKean (capt), N Symmons (all Loreto), T Conway, S O'Connor, L Ryan, Z Dahl, A Bowers (all Old Alexandra), M Goode (Pembroke Wanderers), C O'Brien, S Dooley (both Railway Union), C Sullivan, C Murray (both UCD). Coach: Fred McDarby.
MUNSTER: C Ronan, E Bromell, S Hall (all Catholic Institute), D Casey, S Hackett, K Hales (all Cork Church of Ireland), K Bateman, J Dillon (both Cork Harlequins), F Connery, J Hodgins, A McCarthy (all Hermes), S O'Meara (Loreto), J Bourke (UCD), A Lappin, E Cregan (both Univ of Limerick), K Farrell (Waterford). Coach: Ann Logan.
ULSTER: H Bowe, E Stewart (both Armagh), L McVicker (capt), A Platt, N McCaughern, B McKeever (all Ballymoney), J Gibson, S Beaney, L Feeney, J McDonough (all Belfast Harlequins), F Ferguson, K Maybin, K McCollum, S Wilkinson (all Pegasus), K McComish (Pembroke Wanderers), K Elkin, P Orr, C Parkhill (all Randalstown). Coach: Graeme Francey.
SENIOR INTERPROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT (at Grange Road) - Today: Leinster v Munster, 6,0; Connacht v Ulster, 8.0. Tomorrow: Connacht v Leinster, 11.0; Munster v Ulster, 1.0. Sunday: Connacht v Munster, 10.0; Leinster v Ulster, 2.30.
MAY COSTLEY CUP - Sunday - First round: Dungarvan v Gorey, Newtown School, noon.
